Sprinters Candace Hill and Noah Lyles produced impressive 100m performances to highlight the first day’s action.
Hill, the world youth 100m and 200m champion and still just 17, blazed through the opening round in 11.09, the fastest U20 performance in the world this year, before dominating the final in 11.24. Jayla Kirkland edge Celera Barnes in a tight battle for second, each credited with 11.41.
“It wasn’t the best race for me but I’m pleased,” said Hill, who entered the weekend with an 11.19 season’s best. “It feels amazing, I came out here, this was my goal [to qualify for the IAAF World U20 Championships] and make the team in the 100.”
Hill made waves last year when she clocked 10.98 at age 16 to become the youngest girl to run under 11 seconds in the event.
After winning her 200m heat in 22.76, Hill didn’t start for the final. In her absence, the title went to Kirkland in 23.16.
In the men’s 100m, Lyles was as dominant as Hill was, running away with the title in 10.08. His performance was assisted by a 2.2m/s tailwind, just beyond the 2.0m/s allowable for record purposes.
“It felt pretty nice, this is my first time in three weeks getting back to racing, so I’m just trying to get race sharp and everything,” said the 18-year-old from Alexandria, Virginia, a member of the winning medley relay at last year’s IAAF World U18 Championships in Cali.
All-round sprint talent Michael Norman broke the championship record in the 200m. The 18-year-old won by a comfortable margin of 0.62 to win in 20.15, moving to sixth on the world U20 all-time list. Norman, who also has a 400m PB of 45.19, will now shift his focus to the US Olympic Trials.
Just three hundredths separated Will London and Kahmari Montgomery in the men’s 400m, with London taking the title in 45.61.
Two days after finishing fifth in the 100m, world youth silver medallist Lynna Irby convincingly won the 400m in 52.51.
